Raw Christmas Appetiser: Spinach & Cashew-Cheddar Quiche

Friday, 2nd December 2016

From the Uncook Book by Tanya Maher

— Serves 6
A little forward planning will make a special occasion all the more memorable with this delicious quiche. It keeps well in the fridge for up to two weeks, so you can enjoy any leftovers with a juicy salad at any time of day.

For the base:

130g (4½oz) cashew nuts, soaked for 4–6 hours

150g (5½oz) almonds, soaked for 6–8 hours

100g (3oz) ground flaxseed

1 white onion

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for oiling

1 tbsp nutritional yeast

1 tbsp lemon juice

½ tsp Himalayan salt

For the 'Cheddar' filling:

100g (3oz) pine nuts

100g (3oz) macadamia nuts

120ml (4fl oz) water

80ml (3fl oz) extra virgin olive oil

8 sundried tomato halves, soaked if too dry

juice of 1 lemon

2 tbsp liquid aminos

2 garlic cloves

1 tsp sweet smoked paprika

For the spinach:

60g (2oz) spinach leaves

To garnish (optional) basil leaves and/or micro leaves

1. Prepare 6 mini (10cm/4in) loose-bottomed tartlet tins by oiling all the inside surfaces.
2. Process all the base ingredients in a food processor with an S-blade. Divide the mixture evenly between the prepared tins. Using your fingers, press the dough into the bottom and up the side of each pan to create a crust.
3. Transfer the tins to the dehydrator and dehydrate for 10 hours at 48°C. Remove all casings, including the bottoms, and return the crusts to the dehydrator for another 10 hours on mesh trays.
4. Prepare the filling by blending all the ingredients in a blender until creamy. Transfer to a large bowl.
5. Roughly chop the spinach and stir it into the filling mixture.
6. Divide the filling into 6 equal portions and scoop 1 portion into each of the shaped crusts. Smooth the tops slightly. Return the filled crusts to the dehydrator for another 6–8 hours.

To serve the quiche warm, pop it back into the dehydrator for 2 hours before serving.

When Planet Organic opened its doors in 1995, it was Renée Elliott's dream to offer the best and widest range of organic foods available, and her mission to promote health in the community and to bring a sense of discovery and adventure into food shopping.